Starting Opportunities Act: Educational opportunities for children should be improved

The children in the daycare center in Cottbus are looking intently at a large hidden object picture. There's a lot to see. A farm, a pond, children flying kites. “What can you discover?” asks language specialist Kerstin Pohle. Some of the five and six year olds dare to describe what they find words for.

Others just point silently at the picture. "They were able to show what was meant. They recognized that very well, but the words were missing," says Pohle.

Recognize early, take countermeasures early

This is where a bill from Education and Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU), which is being discussed in the Bundestag for the first time today, comes into play. The Starting Opportunities and Quality Development Act (SCQEG) is intended to oblige the federal states to introduce comprehensive language tests for all four-year-olds. Motor, social-emotional and mathematical skills should also be recorded.

Some countries like Hamburg are already carrying out such tests, but now there should be uniform standards. The aim is to record the level of development of children well before they move to primary school. If the need is identified, the children should be supported accordingly.

The law is aimed at equal opportunities, explained Prien at the presentation on September 2nd. "The educational and life path of children and young people still depends far too much on where a child comes from, what family it comes from, the level of education of the parents and too little on the talents and abilities of the children themselves," she said.

First check, then promote

30 minutes per week - this is how much additional time specialists should dedicate to each child who needs support. The draft law also stipulates that daycare centers with a high proportion of children with special challenges will receive up to 1.5 additional positions for language education and social work.

At least ten percent of daycare centers in every federal state should benefit from this. According to the Ministry of Education, this should also contribute to a smooth transition to primary schools.

The law is scheduled to come into force gradually from 2027 and take full effect from 2029. The states are actually responsible for daycare centers. But Prien hopes to get her on her side. The federal government wants to provide the states with proportional support in implementing the law and provide around 9.25 billion euros by 2034.

However, the federal states still doubt that this financing commitment from Berlin will be sufficient and are calling for improvements. The law must also be passed by the Federal Council.

At the daycare center in Cottbus, language specialist Kerstin Pohle would like “more time and more colleagues”. The planned start-up opportunities and quality development law could fulfill at least some of their wishes.